April 2005 Plumbline, Walden Lodge No. 274
Greetings from the East
Brethren:
March sure came in like a lion. I hope that we can all enjoy spring and there is no better way than to be among the craft of Walden Lodge no. 274. Mark your calendar to be present at our April 7 communication. If you haven’t been to a meeting in a while, no problem. You know that you are always welcome. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (I think that I’ve heard that before.) Attend and enjoy the fellowship. Bring a friend!
Also, mark you calendar for Saturday, April 23, for a Master Mason degree. Plans are breakfast at 8:00 am and the degree work will begin at 9:00 am. Of course, this will need to be confirmed at our April communication meeting.
See Brother Senior Warden, Chris Grantham’s article in this Plumbline regarding our planned Masonic Education at our April meeting. It is always a pleasure to have RW Bro. Dennis Julian visit us at Walden.
At our March communication we developed a list of those brothers who may be available to attend Masonic funerals. My brothers, as you know this is a special and serious obligation that we have when a departed brother’s family requests Masonic rites. This day and age is very busy for many of us, but for those who can, please put your name on the list so that if you are available, you can participate. You can contact Brother Secretary, Earl Hudgens, or any of the officers. This list is being combined with other similar lists from 18th Masonic District lodges to form one composite list. Hopefully, in the future, we will have exceptionally good turnouts throughout the district.
If you haven’t received your dues card for 2005, please call Brother Earl Hudgens, Secretary. As so often happens, the end of the year is a very busy time. It is easy to misplace or simply forget to send the check for dues. Last year I complained to a professional group that I belong to that I couldn’t log on to the website. Guess what? I hadn’t paid my dues. By brothers, I just knew that I had paid, but on further examination, it was clear that I hadn’t. This can happen to anyone. I counted nearly $3,000.00 worth of dues cards that have yet to be paid, prior to our March meeting. Many of our major expenditures are due around the first of the year. Thank you for addressing this issue and your continued support of Walden Lodge.
As you all know, Walden has a tradition of doing good degree work. At this time, we are blessed as we have several of our newer Master Masons participating in degree work. Of course, having new active members is critical to the future of not only Walden Lodge but to Freemasonry in general. But that is a story for another day. We have a member who, during my brief Masonic journey, has made himself available at many, many, practices. He has lent his knowledge and patience as many of us were “learning our parts”. At our March meeting, I was very pleased to appoint Worshipful Brother Mark Cooper as Director of Work. Bro. Mark is very busy setting up his new business; however, he seems to always take the time to answer questions and work with the degree team. It was simply time to make it official. Bro. Mark, thanks for agreeing to serve.
Brother Senior Warden, Chris Grantham, announced that shirts would again be ordered for those requesting them. If you are interested, please contact Bro. Chris or Worshipful Brother Croft Bradley. You can talk with them about size, colors available, pricing, etc.
Please don’t forget to visit Walden Lodge #274 on the internet. Our website can be found at: http://www.mastermason.com/walden274
“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pike
Fraternally and sincerely,
Mel Sinclair, Worshipful Master
Tidings from the West
Greetings Brothers,
As I write this, your degree team is practicing for the second degree on the 17th of March. We are going to do our best to put on a good degree for our two candidates.
I have asked RW Bro. Dennis Julian to give a short presentation on the lodge system of Masonic Education. He was going to present it at our March meeting, but due to time constraints, and a bout of the flu, wasn’t able to bring it off. However, he is eager to do so at our April meeting, and I know you’ll all come away with some good ol’ fashioned Masonic education.
I would like to take a moment a thank Tom Mowbray, and Mark Cooper. I’ve leaned on them in the preparation for this degree and they have done an outstanding job! Thanks to you and to all of the degree team. I appreciate all your hard work.
Brothers, please take a few moments and keep our troops overseas in your prayers. It’s very easy to grow complacent after the length of time that this current crisis has gone on for.
I look forward to seeing you at our April meeting, and if there’s anything I can do, please don’t hesitate to call on me.
Sincerely, and fraternally
Chris Grantham, Senior Warden
Tidings from the South
My Brothers, we are at our third meeting this year. How time does fly.
In my chair, I see to it that all Brothers (members of Walden and visitors) enter our Lodge meeting well sated with food and drink. This is not only my duty but, also my pleasure. It gives us a chance to sit and talk and enjoy each others company before the night is done. As it is written:
“Look how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
I would like to invite my Brothers that I have not seen in a while to come and dwell together in unity with us.
Our regular meeting on April 7th, and our third degree on Saturday April 23rd. Breakfast will be served; and if all goes well, we may have a very special treat for breakfast.
I hope to see one and all.
Chick Davis, Junior Warden